£300k windfall for Cheadle rec

£300k windfall for Cheadle rec

A RECREATION ground in Cheadle is set for a £300,000 cash boost as part of a major improvement scheme.

Work to build new play facilities at the Tean Road facility is expected to be completed by the start of next month.

But a pot of money has been set aside by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council for a much bigger project at the site.

Details of the plan will not be made public until next month, but it’s thought the project could include new changing rooms at the site.

Facilities for football teams using the pitch at Tean Road have been in disrepair for some time and have become a target for vandals.

News of the windfall was revealed in a financial plan approved by the district council last week.

The authority’s ‘medium term’ budget confirms that £186,000 has been set aside for improvements to recreational facilities at Tean Road Recreation Ground.

The mystery project has yet to be fully costed, but it’s known the money will be put together with an allocation of £114,000 from the council’s Section 106 planning obligations – money the authority receives as a contribution from housing developers.

Community leaders have so far remained tightlipped on details of the scheme, which was discussed under ‘confidential items’ at Monday night’s meeting of Cheadle Town Council.

But the prospect of a £300,000 cash boost was described in the public section of the meeting as ‘good news’ for the town.

Cllr Alan Banks, also a member of the district council, said: “Cheadle is going to benefit from a six-figure sum for improvements.

“Money has been set aside by SMDC in the medium-term financial plan and that will be added to Section 106 money.

“We’ve been working on this for quite a long time and it’s great to see the district council putting money into Cheadle.

“I don’t think this is the last either so it’s good news.”

Work to erect new play facilities at the Recreation Ground – a separate project partly funded by grant aid cash and a contribution from the town council – has been going on for several months.

The scheme, which features 10 pieces of new equipment including swings, a roundabout, a climbing frame and a zip wire, is in line to be finished by the beginning of April.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council confirmed the funding was allocated for Tean Recreation Ground.

He said: “We will be investing in facilities in Cheadle and we’re working up a scheme at the moment.

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